What is the story?

I've always been a scrounger, a scavenger.  This explains why, in my high school days, I was captivated by The Source, a historical novel about Palestine written by James Michener. 

In this novel, archeologists dig trenches into the sides of large mounds, or "tells", which are buried locations of villages and small cities.  As they dig, the scientists unearth various objects (a sickle blade, a coin, etc.) and then Michener goes back in time and tells a story that includes this item in his narrative.  I love this book and have read it at least twice.

I was thinking about this book when, last weekend, while I was moving dirt around in my back yard, I exhumed an intriguing artifact:

The marble itself is not very interesting but the stories it could tell might be very intriguing.  "How long had this marble been there?  How did it get buried under a foot of dirt?  Who did this belong to?"  Unfortunately, I'll never know this marble's story.

The Curiosity Rover that just landed on Mars is zapping rocks with lazers, trying to wrestle a story out of them. 

For most of my life the Bible has been like rock with a story locked inside.  But lately, I've come to see and love the Bible as the story of God's redemptive plan for the creatures that bear his image. How did that change happen?  Good preaching has been the laser that has revealed the wonderful story.

Pilgrim's Hymn by Michael Dennis Browne

Pilgrim's Hymn

Even before we call on Your name to ask You, O God,

When we seek for the words to glorify You, You hear our prayer;

Unceasing love, O unceasing love, surpassing all we know.

Glory to the father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Even with darkness sealing us in, we breathe Your name,

And through all the days that follow so fast, we trust in You;

Endless Your grace, O endless Your grace, beyond all mortal dream.

Both now and forever, and unto ages and ages, Amen

(Michael Dennis Browne)

The importance of Jesus-centered preaching

I am a high-maintenance Christian.  I am easily flustered, derailed, unhinged, distracted, and driven to despair.  I pay too much attention to my lying emotions and self-centered thoughts.

One of the most effective "means of grace" in my life has been good preaching.  (When I say "good preaching", I mean preaching that gets my eyes off of myself and onto Jesus, preaching that is charactorized by Bible exposition.)  I spend a lot of time listening to sermons on my iPod.  I have noticed that the Scotsmen and Irishmen are particularly good at preaching.
 

Here's a list of my favorite preachers that I have found on iTunes:

• Alistair Begg - "Truth For Life" radio program
• Collin Smith - "Unlocking The Bible" radio program
• Sinclair Ferguson - First Presbyterian Church of Columbia, SC
• St. George's Tron Church - Glasgow, Scotland
• Hamilton Road Presbyterian Church, Bangor , Ireland

Their preaching focuses on what Jesus has done, is doing, and will do.  They emphasize our union with Jesus and the work of the Holy Spirit in the Christian's life.  They do not moralize and add new burdens to their listener's backs.  Their preaching is life-giving.

I also enjoy reading devotionals by Charles Spurgeon (Engishman)  and Andrew Murray (South African).  Their writing is so pastoral and nurturing.

I feel blessed to belong to a church fellowship (Bethlehem Baptist Church) that has consistently good preaching.

A Hymn To God The Father by John Donne

There is so much grace and comfort in this hymn.   A HYMN TO GOD THE FATHER. by John Donne I. WILT Thou forgive that sin where I begun,     Which was my sin, though it were done before? Wilt Thou forgive that sin, through which I run,     And do run still, though still I do deplore?         When Thou hast done, Thou hast not done,                     For I have more. II. Wilt Thou forgive that sin which I have won     Others to sin, and made my sin their door? Wilt Thou forgive that sin which I did shun     A year or two, but wallowed in a score?         When Thou hast done, Thou hast not done,                     For I have more. III. I have a sin of fear, that when I have spun     My last thread, I shall perish on the shore ; But swear by Thyself, that at my death Thy Son     Shall shine as he shines now, and heretofore ;         And having done that, Thou hast done ;                     I fear no more. Source: Donne, John. Poems of John Donne. vol I. E. K. Chambers, ed. London, Lawrence & Bullen, 1896. 213.

Reading the Bible aloud

I recently discovered the value of reading large portions of scripture (for example, an entire epistle) aloud to myself.

• It forces me to read more slowly.
• If my mind wanders, I notice it sooner.
• I am taking in God's word through an additional sensory apparatus, which can give it more "weight".
• I have to pay attention to the voice inflections and chose what fits the text.
• The thoughts get connected together into a coherent message.

Faith comes by hearing the word of God.  I have been helped by hearing it in my own voice!

In What Torn Ship by John Donne

I appreciate some poetry, and I've written some of my own occasionally.   Here's one I like.  It's honest, from the heart, and focused on love.

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A Hymn to Christ at the Author's Last Going into Germany

In what torn ship soever I embark,

That ship shall be my emblem of thy Ark;

What sea soever swallow me, that flood

Shall be to me an emblem of thy blood;

Though thou with clouds of anger do disguise

Thy face, yet through that mask I know those eyes,

Which, though they turn away sometimes,

They never will despise.

 I sacrifice this Island unto thee,

And all whom I loved there, and who loved me;

When I have put our seas 'twixt them and me,

Put thou thy sea betwixt my sins and thee.

As the tree's sap doth seek the root below

In winter, in my winter now I go,

Where none but thee, th' Eternal root

Of true Love, I may know.

Nor thou nor thy religion dost control

The amorousness of an harmonious Soul,

But thou wouldst have that love thyself: as thou

Art jealous, Lord, so I am jealous now,

Thou lov'st not, till from loving more, Thou free

My soul: who ever gives, takes liberty:

O, if thou car'st not whom I love

Alas, thou lov'st not me.

Seal then this bill of my Divorce to All,

On whom those fainter beams of love did fall;

Marry those loves, which in youth scattered be

On Fame, Wit, Hopes (false mistresses) to thee.

Churches are best for Prayer, that have least light:

To see God only, I go out of sight:

And to 'scape stormy days, I choose

An Everlasting night.